The figure was well above economists’ forecasts for a 0.3pc monthly rise, and came as companies ramped up production of basic materials and overseas demand increased for UK equipment and machinery, suggesting that a weaker pound has made British exports more attractive.

The broader measure of industrial production also rose by 0.7pc, as Britain's coldest March since 1962 saw gas and electricity output jump by 2.4pc.

This was partly offset by a continued decline at Britain's oil and gas fields, where output fell by 2pc in March. Production at the North Sea's Schiehallion platform was suspended earlier this year for maintenance, and the platform, which accounts for between 3pc and 6pc of total oil production, could see work continue for up to five years.

Despite Thursday's better-than-expected data, the ONS said that its initial estimate that industrial output grew by 0.2pc in the first quarter was unchanged, meaning it is unlikely that figures showing that the economy grew by 0.3pc in the first quarter will be revised up based on this data. The ONS revised down its February estimates for industrial and manufacturing production by 0.1 percentage points each.

The latest industrial data are also likely to confirm widespread expectations of no extension to the Bank of England's quantitative easing programme when it announces its decision on interest rates later on Thursday.

Although economists hailed the figures as "stunning", most said the sector still faced significant headwinds from a declining eurozone economy and faltering growth in emerging nations such as China and Brazil.

“Weak Eurozone demand will continue to plague the fortunes of UK manufacturers and the underlying picture is still fragile," said Nida Ali, economic advisor to the Ernst & Young ITEM Club. "UK manufacturers aren’t out of the woods yet.”

Samuel Tombs at Capital Economics also said that the monthly rise in the supply of gas and electircity, which contributed 0.2 percentage points to the increase in overall production, would likely be reversed in April.